The O'Jays 'Imagination' album

TIMELESS! This says it all. The O’Jays are living legends…American Treasures.

The term “living legend” is often overused and abused, but with The O’Jays, well, there’s little argument that the honorable tag truly applies. Now this storied trio adds yet another cornerstone to their impressive track record with IMAGINATION… their new album being released on Music World Music/Sanctuary Urban Records Group.

With their place in modern music history secure, The O’Jays have a body of work that includes over 60 albums, 24 Top Ten smashes and 59 total charted songs. They continue to perform incredibly energetic and dynamic live shows with their Olympian vocals
and continue their social and political impact on generations and nations.

Doing things slowly is not Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and Eric Grant’s modus operandi. After 40+ years making such international hits as “Back Stabbers,” “For The Love Of Money,” “Darlin’ Darlin’ Baby,” “Love Train,” “I Love Music,” “Use Ta Be My Girl”and “Have You Had Your Love Today,” The O’Jays are light years away from easing up on the gas. Their new album demonstrates that, like fine wine, The O’Jays just improve with time.

IMAGINATION is a work of art, with a classic O’Jays sound resounding on each track. The title tune Imagination, written and produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, is the next great “steppers” anthem. Levert and Williams wrote and produced 3 songs -- “Make-Up” a slow mellow tune for lovers; “Chauvinistic”, an uptempo beat that will make you clap your hands and stomp your feet, and the reggae flavored “Busy Tonight.” Levert and Williams also collaborated with Troy Taylor on “Made It Back,” a tune with a great gospel beat and the heart felt “Separate Ways.” The album also features writing and production from Rob Fusari, Gordon Chambers and Gerald Levert.

There have been “four faces” of the O’Jays. This vocal group from Canton, Ohio originated with Eddie Levert, Sr., Walter Williams, Sr., William Powell, Bobby Massey and Billy Isles. Their name was coined from the last name of Cleveland DJ Eddie O’Jay by chance. Isles left the group in 1965. Massey left to become a record Producer in 1971 and Levert, Williams and Powell continued as a trio. Powell retired from touring due to illness in late 1975, passing at the age of 35 in 1977. Powell was replaced by Sammy Strain, formerly with Little Anthony & The Imperials. Strain returned to his former group in 1993 and was replaced by Nathaniel Best.

After the departure in 1995 of Best, Eric Nolan Grant joined the group. Levert says “Eric was the ideal person for the O’Jays, because he was used to working within a group, which Walter Williams managed. He was really a shoe-in, and he fit perfectly”. Further he states “With his addition, we have been able to keep our performances at a level that we’re used to having-stage-wise and in the studio.”

Eddie and Walter’s lifelong relationship began when Walter met Eddie when he was 6 and Eddie was 7. Their cohesive and long lasting relationship is what they patterned their career after and is just an example of their long commitment to The O’Jays, their commitment to excellence and to their fans. “We have three generations at our concerts…the kids, the moms and dads, and the grandmas and granddads”, says Williams. “This popularity among generations is rare in music today, an exception rather than the rule and that is why The O’Jays are a phenomenon”, says the Management Team of Rosalind R. Ray, Esquire and Andy Gibson, CPA. Ray and Gibson add “The O’Jays are more than legends. They are the architects of music that have proven timeless and priceless”.

“IMAGINATION… is a CD that we believe everyone, especially longtime O’Jays fans, will enjoy,” says Music World/Santuary Urban Records Group president Mathew Knowles.

Eddie Levert summarizes the album: “The message on IMAGINATION… is love; love in a relationship, jealousy love, long-distance love, trying to find love.” Walter concurs: “We are pretty much known as the messengers of love. We try to continue to exude love throughout our songs, while asking our audience to use their IMAGINATION.”

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The O'Jays - Imagination